Ambitious QPR line up £5m Hooper deal as Hull back out of move for Celtic striker

QPR are closing on a deal for Celtic’s Gary Hooper, while Norwich also maintain an interest in the striker.

Manager Harry Redknapp is prepared to improve his offer to around £5million with add-ons.

Hull boss Steve Bruce revealed recently that he would not be returning with an offer for the Englishman after a reported £4.5m bid was rejected last month.

On the move? Gary Hooper is wanted by Championship outfit QPR

Neil Lennon remains determined to hang on to his star striker — who the Parkhead club rate at £6m — but is bracing himself for further offers.

Meanwhile, Steve McClaren, who joined Redknapp’s coachings set-up last week, has been reflecting on the R’s relegation last season.

He told the club’s website: ‘It surprised me, initially. From the talent that was bought last summer. But talent is nothing. You’ve got to get blend, you’ve got to get balance, you’ve got to get commitment, you’ve got to get team-work.

Big game player: Hooper and Celtic enjoyed success in last season's Champions League, reaching the last 16

‘That’s the key. It’s not about looking at the past, it’s about saying, “What do we need to do now?”

‘The team got relegated, so there are problems. And we have to solve those problems, on the field and off the field. That’s what Harry’s doing. They key thing is we’ve got to build a team. That’s the most important thing.

‘I don’t think you can set targets to say we’re going to do this, or we’re going to do that. The first thing is we have to build a team; a team that can compete and a team that can win football matches.

‘That’s the platform – work hard, work hard together. If you don’t have that, it’s such hard work and you’re going to struggle. That’s probably one of the reasons why QPR are now in the Championship. We have to assess that first, before anything else. You have to blend, you have to be together.’

On the ball: QPR coach Steve McClaren is focused on the future at Loftus Road